A Nike Missile is a Surface to Air missile (SAM) that is used to shoot down aircraft. Twenty (20) Nike Missile Bases used to ring Chicago and Gary, IN, protecting the area from enemy bomber attacks during the Cold War, specifically from 1950-1974. Gary was included because of its Steel Manufacturing at the time. Each of these missile bases housed a battery of Nike SAM missiles, ready to be used within minutes if necessary.

Nike Missile Base Tour Map

Nike Missile Base Tour Information

Nike Missile Base Tour Information -> PDF files

C-03 (1955-1965) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Montrose Harbor / Belmont Harbor
Control site had been completely destroyed and is now where the restaurant ‘The Dock’ on Montrose Beach sits. The Launch complex had also been completely destroyed.

C-32 (1957-1974) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Porter, IN
Control site had some buildings repurposed into the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The Launch complex is largely intact but is locked and is under private ownership.

C-40 (1955-1963) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Burnham Park, Chicago
Both the Control site and the Launch complex have been completely destroyed and built over.

C-41 (1955-1971) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Jackson Park, Chicago
Both the Control site and the Launch complex have been completely destroyed.

C-44 (1955-1963) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Hegewisch / Wolf Lake, Chicago
The Control site had been overgrown but may be mostly intact. The Launch complex buildings have been destroyed, but the foundations remain.

C-45 (1957-1960) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Gary Municipal Airport, IN
The Control site has been destroyed. The Launch complex has been mostly destroyed, but broken up concrete is still present.

C-46 (1957-1960) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Munster, IN
The Control site has been redeveloped. The Launch complex has been destroyed, and is currently under private ownership.

C-47 (1956-1974) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
South Haven / Wheeler, IN
The Control site is still mostly intact, but now it is the site of a Paintball Park. The Launch complex is also mostly intact, but in poor condition. Although in the Paintball Park, the Launch site is not part of the Paintball area.

C-48 (1957-1960) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Gary, IN
The Control site has been redeveloped. The Launch complex has been destroyed, although some broken concrete still present.

C-49/50 (1957-1974) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Homewood
The Control site has been completely redeveloped into a park. The Launch complex has been destroyed, and built over into a hospital.

C-51 (1956-1963) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Alsip / Palos
The Control site has been redeveloped. The Launch complex has been also redeveloped.

C-54 (1955-1961) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Orland Park
The Control site has been redeveloped. The Launch complex has been also redeveloped.

C-61 (1955-1968) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Willowbrook / Darien
The Control site has been redeveloped and is now a Forest Preserve. The Launch complex has been also redeveloped and is now part of US Army Reserve Center.

C-70 (1955-1961) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Naperville
The Control site has been redeveloped into an Office Complex. The Launch complex has been also redeveloped into a Park.

C-72 (1955-1961) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Addison
The Control site has been redeveloped into a Park. The base of the Tower is still intact. The Launch complex has been also redeveloped into Park District Land.

C-80/81 (1950-1974) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Arlington Heights
The Control site has been redeveloped. The Launch complex has been also redeveloped.

C-84 (1956-1963) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Palatine
The Control site has been redeveloped. The Launch complex has been also redeveloped, but part of this site remain.

C-92/94 (1955-1963) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE 92 / LAUNCH SITE 94
Vernon Hills
The Control site has been redeveloped. Both Launch complexes has been also redeveloped, but missile silos still exist in 94 site.

C-93 (1955-1974) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Skokie Lagoons
The Control site has been destroyed although pipes remain. The Launch complex has been also destroyed.

C-98 (1954-1963) CONTROL SITE / LAUNCH SITE
Fort Sheridan
The Control site has been destroyed. The Launch complex has been mostly destroyed, although some parts remain.

Nike Missile Base Tour Links

NIKE MISSILES
Nike Missiles -> Wikipedia

NIKE MISSILE BASES CHICAGO-GARY
Nike Missile Sites Chicago/NW Indiana -> Wikipedia
Nike Missile Site C-47 -> Wikipedia
Arlington Heights Army Air Defense Site -> Wikipedia